16 March 2016

Myanmar's parliament elected Htin Kyaw as the country's new president
Tuesday in a watershed moment that ushers the longtime opposition party
of Aung San Suu Kyi into government after 54 years of direct or
indirect military rule.

The joint session of the two houses of
parliament broke into thundering applause as the speaker Mann Win Khaing
Than announced the result: "I hereby announce the president of Myanmar
is Htin Kyaw, as he won the majority of votes." Immediately, the
state-run Myanmar TV's camera zoomed in from above on a beaming Suu Kyi,
sitting in the front row, clapping excitedly, for a live nationwide
audience.